Henry McKenna 10 Year Bottled in Bond Review | Is It Worth the Hunt?

[@juris301]

I just bought my first bottle and had my first drink. I agree, it isn’t too complex. It’s an easy sip and very tasty. I’ll be drinking king this often.

[@FLIGHT762]

Some Months ago, McKenna was $75.00 at my local Total wine. I passed on it because of the price. A couple of months ago, Total Wine dropped the price to $55.00. I picked up a bottle. I tried a bottle. It was good, drinkable but I probably won't re- buy it. This morning, I stopped buy Total Wine and noticed they increased the price on McKenna to $64.00. I picked up a bottle of Baker's for $59.99. Bakers has a bit more flavor for me.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Around me HM10 has recently hit a lot more shelves and bit much more available for somewhere between $60-70. Which is great to see. May have to grab one soon to compare to this one. Do love the Bakers tho. Cheers.

[@thickerliquor]

3:32 the color on the bourbon is amazing . . .

[@GOTAisMe]

I saw Henry McKenna 10 for $85 about a month ago. I passed because I had read that there is a lot of inconsistencies between bottles. With the markups that so many stores put on these allocated bottles it's great to be able to watch to some honest reviews.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Yeah, with the single barrel nature of it, the variance could be big. And for me, the bottle I have is solid. Not great, just solid. $85 is too much in my opinion. $60 is the limit I'd go to now that I've tried it. Glad the review helps keep you informed on it. Cheers!

[@Reamer]

Thanks for reviewing this one, it's definitely a polarizing bottle amongst the community. Picked up a bottle recently for $55, but haven't cracked it open yet. Keeping my expectations reasonable as most of the hyped up bottles tend to not live up to it. Cheers!

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

$55 is pretty good. It’s solid overall but wish it wasn’t so hyped up. Hope you enjoy it and cheers!

[@krolson74]

I bought mine the first time I saw it for less than $100. At $70 I am please with mine and it is very good. Blinded it against my son-in-laws bottle and neither of us thought his bottle was a value even at MSRP. They seem to vary wildly. For the same price and mash-bill I will wait for ECBP releases.

[@yourdrinkingbuddy]

Good call.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Agreed. ECBP is worth it over HM 10. Still a solid bottle to try, but not worth all the crazy hype, especially with variation in barrels being so big. Cheers!

[@rhayes458]

Thanks for reviewing and sharing your honest thoughts! I’ve enjoyed seeing you come across some of these tougher to find bottles lately. I picked up my one and only Henry McKenna 10 year this fall for what I felt was a fair price for my first one. I have yet to open it, but curious to see if it is worth the hype to me or not. Thanks again for your content!

[@ronschmucker504]

Agree with you. This should be on the shelves and not allocated. I have 2 I bought for $55 each and am happy with that. Be patient and buy at MSRP.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Yep, a shame it's not living up the hype but that's the way things are in the market right now. Will be waiting to see this at MSRP before buying again for sure. Cheers!

[@nottherealaaron]

I've had a few bottles and HM10 just varies so wildly barrel to barrel, but they can be absolute gems. Flavor profiles are subjective, but in my opinion, if Blantons is worth MSRP as it approaches that 4-5 year range, HM10 is definitely still decent value at $60-70.

[@davevogelsang6791]

I found Henry McKenna 10 BIB at 2 different stores in the last 3-4 weeks. I picked up a bottle at each place for $65. Have not cracked either of them open, but look forward to it. Most reviews are either love it or hate it.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Yeah, it's a polarizing bottle. I lean more toward "eh, not my favorite" but I'm glad I have it and I'm interested to see if it opens up over time. Cheers!

[@aaronknight4800]

I love this bottle.. I have 2 bottles, deep in the first, but if the price keeps creeping I will find it difficult to continue. IMO this year you will see a trend, like every other industry, of slipping sales. The economic climate is scary right now.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

I think you're probably right about that trend. Glad you love this bottle though!

[@K9AF]

The 'drying' to which you referred is the residue of the alcohol. And the more sips you take in a short time, naturally is going to build up on your palate. In tasting ANY spirit, one should NEVER take more than 2 sips WITHOUT cleansing the palate at LEAST with a healthy gulp of pure water, or else risk the influence about which I just mentioned. Also, I was more than a bit disappointed you DIDN'T try it with a small ice cube, as in my experience, that ice cube will change the taste of most bourbons quite a bit.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Good tip! I'll incorporate cleansing my palate more often. Thanks.

[@sugarkitty4777]

I paid $55 for my current bottle after it had been $45 a few years ago. It's never been on the shelf regularly for me. But the one I have is walnuts for days and an outstanding pour. Mine was positively worth even more than what I paid for it.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Nice! That's the benefit of a single barrel is that some can be outstanding. Glad yours hits your palate the right way. But I agree it's not one I'm going to regularly stock unless I see it for a good price. Cheers!

[@jakeizlove]

It’s one I enjoy pretty often. I’m just tired of the price always creeping up.

[@UltrahotPeppers]

It took me almost 3 years to find 3 bottles. I didn't taste Henry McKenna 10 year until after I acquired the third bottle. At this point I'm on the last of the second bottle and both bottles were very consistent. Honestly I won't be chasing this one again and I think it's a poor value at $60. I will say that I get a very traditional old school or old man flavor profile, with very little sweetness and mostly just aged oak with other very simple and basic notes. I much prefer Jack Daniels SBBP for a higher proof at the same price point. Henry McKenna BIB 10 year is not a bad bourbon but it's just not for me overall.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Really great point about the old-school flavor profile. I obviously haven't been drinking whiskey for very long, but this does strike me as a more dry and oaky experience. If you asked me before I ever had bourbon what it might taste like, I think this is what I might have said based on preconceived notions. I can certainly enjoy this, but it's just not worth much more than $60 to me. Cheers!

[@bencpt2000]

Bought it 11-15.23 at Total wine for $65. Now $75. I only bought at $65 because my wife actually liked it. It's overpriced at that price to me so this was probably my last bottle purchase

[@_conorrhea]

My Costco has tons of these available right now, priced at 55$ though

[@vincentsimon4037]

Picked up 2 bottles of HM. It is quite wonderful!! I paid just around $80 per bottle in Ashland Ky. Kentucky will bend you over with prices and multi tax/fees. Just ridiculous.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Glad you like it! But yep, prices across KY are so up and down (mostly up) that it's crazy. Cheers!

[@OldFashionedWays]

I have been lucky to get a few of these at MSRP. I feel for that price well worth it. agree with you would not pay $100. I do enjoy it but have to agree with you. I did not notice it drying, but each bottle is different. thanks for sharing. cheers.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

For $50-60 it's a good bottle. I find it's more of an old-school profile with a drying effect, but it is a single barrel so there's bound to be variation. I think this is a great bottle to start a conversation around because of all that. Cheers!

[@jerrdog5568]

The best stuff I've ever had.

[@fredbaker6315]

I loved your video, I have had a couple of these bottles. So I guess I liked the price enough at 59 bucks that I purchased a second bottle to try again. I did get more rye flavors on the 2nd bottle, but it’s a change from my other go to’s. Like you commented I would not pay up for another bottle, but would consider a 3rd try at 60 bucks.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Thanks for watching! HM10 has become a lot more available around me lately so I may have to get a second bottle soon to compare. Happy hunting in 2024. Cheers!

[@williamharvey124]

I have had 1 taste of the one bottle of McKenna 10yr that I have found. I agree that it is not very complex, but it is different from many other whiskeys. I got caramel, butter, and toffee, both on the nose and pallet. I didn't find much spice or oak, but it was drying. Overall, I like it, I would probably pay $75 for another bottle, but luckily, I got mine at MSRP.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

It’s definitely a different and kind of old school flavor profile. I like it fine but I’m glad it hits your palate right! Cheers.

[@kboomarangfinch167]

It definitely went from lower $40 range to the $60-$70 range in the stores in my market, it can still found fairly easy, but I think Four Rose's S/B still at around $40 is better and seems more consistent over all.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

I'd agree with that assessment! Four Roses SiB is so balanced and solid and for less money and easier to find it's probably the more reliable option. Thanks for watching and cheers!

[@Utahforrest]

I have a hoard of Henry McKenna. My favorite bourbon

[@brianterrell3101]

I normally get 1-2 bottles of this a year. I really like it, but I liked it a lot better when it was $35. The last bottle I got was $55 after a tour at the Evan Williams experience. A little high, but still within my range.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

$55 isn’t too bad. Wish it was still $35 for sure. Would be a very good value then. Cheers!

[@loduke3905]

I used to pound McKenna in college. It was absolutely so cheap. You could get a liter for 11 to 12 bucks and half gallon for under $30. Im happy to see it recognized but damnit, it was a hidden secret that i didnt want people to know about.

[@overindulgence6168]

Big difference between regular mckenna and mckenna 10 year BiB

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Yep, there's a regular McKenna that is still very affordable. The bottled in bond is the one that's won some awards and gotten a lot of hype. Cheers!

[@chads5968]

Nice review. 👍 I was waiting for you to say that you're getting a pear note. I get a good amount of pear/apple which produces that drying for me. I really like it for MSRP. I won't pay more than that. I got most of my bottles for $50 in Ohio. Now the price is $60 which I paid for the latest bottle I picked up. If it goes up again I will stop buying it. I still want to see you blind this bottle against your Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

I'll have to revisit to see if I get pear on it! And I'm 100% going to do a blind with it. I'm interested in comparing to other bottle in bonds (Heaven Hill, Evan Williams, Jack Daniels, etc.) and to other 10 year whiskeys (Eagle Rare, Russell's Reserve 10). So this one will be in a couple of blinds coming up. Cheers!

[@overindulgence6168]

I love mine just popped it and even on the neck pour it is amazing

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Glad you're enjoying your bottle!

[@tm423w74]

I have never hunt for it, always at my costco. It is still 50.00 a bottle before tax.

[@OJ4HIRE]

I bunkered a case at $41 just before the price went nuts towards the $60 price they are at now

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Glad you got ahead of the curve there! For $60 I think grabbing one to try is still worth it, but I really hope it doesn't continue to climb in price and drop in availability. Cheers!

[@andrewbutler7681]

I've tried the McKenna 10 twice: the first one was so unpleasant I wondered if it was tainted in some way, the second was just "meh" - one of the most boring bourbons I've encountered. Until someone pours me a taste from a barrel on the level of the award winner, it isn't a bottle I'll be hunting at any price...

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Dang, sorry your tastes of it were so lackluster. I found it solid, but nothing mind-blowing. Does make you wonder how good those award-winning barrels were compared to the average option on the shelf. Cheers!

[@DileepB]

$50 at Costco in WA stste.

[@keithrezendes6913]

Amazing bottle

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Glad you like it! I think my single barrel (at least for my palate) is a bit of a disappointment. Have you had multiple bottles and were they different experiences for you?

[@jamesstreet1144]

I’ve only seen this in stores twice. One was $70 and the other was $100. I passed both times.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

At those prices I don't blame you. Certainly not for $100. I'd go up to $60 on it. Just goes to show what hype around a bottle can do to prices and availability. Thanks for watching and cheers!

[@carlmschwarber259]

I've got one somewhere in my cabinet, haven't opened it yet 🙃

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Let me know what you think when you try it! I have mixed feelings but overall it's a good old-school kind of bourbon. Cheers!

[@carlmschwarber259]

@@thebourbonhutch9574 will do

[@BA-pz3lo]

this is $64 here in virginia

[@cahabatunes380]

It’s definitely a spicy oak bomb. Not sure if it’s worth $60+ anymore when you can find better flavor profiles with B Trace, E Rare, Rare Breed, 4 Roses & Knob Creek just to name a few. -Russ

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Agreed that in the current market with so many options this just doesn’t stand out to me as a great value. Cheers!

[@jhord282]

I am enjoying the bottle I have open. Will buy another after I kill this one , but wont be hunting for it. Definitely won pay more then MSRP, $50-$60.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Glad you enjoy it! I have a similar approach where now I have it on my radar to grab if I ever see it at a good price, but not going to go crazy trying to find it. Cheers!

[@bigsassyster]

In the last 4 years I have bought three bottles: $43, $47, $55. Price kept going up every year.
The first bottle I had was the best. 2nd was almost watered down, and the 3rd decent.
If this was around $40, it would be my go to, but at $60 it isn't worth it to me. There are better bourbons at that price or $10 more.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

I agree. $40 would be a great price (sitting right there with Russell's Reserve 10). But I honestly see it more for like $75 most of the time and based on this experience I can't justify it. Thanks for watching and cheers!

[@chakaleelee]

I would love to be able to sit down with a real bourbon drinker with different brands and do a taste testing and teaching. Every time I try it, I just can’t. Yuk! Maybe I’m not drinking it right, drinking the right one or something. I really want to give bourbon whiskey a shot but I think I need help.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

I think that's a great idea if you can find someone local to you! Someone with experience can walk with you through the experience and I've been able to do that for some friends which has been awesome. Overall, bourbon is definitely an acquired taste, but honestly most alcohol categories are. Hope you come to enjoy it! Cheers.

[@dirkamus]

In 2024 I payed $70 in Florida

[@OldFashionedWays]

looks like i may first. cheers

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Yep!! Thanks for watching as always :)

[@geland1]

Don’t think it’s anything to write home about. I found it pretty thin & watery on the palette.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Agreed it's not the best I've had. Solid for me, but not anything special.

[@Subourbon]

I am on my third bottle and have 4 in reserve.
hate the stuff. !>)

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Lol nice! Have any of the 3 you've had stood above the others or has the quality been about the same?

[@yourdrinkingbuddy]

This is one of the most disappointing bottles I have bought. I do only have one though and hear they vary greatly from barrel to barrel.
Cheers 🥃

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Barrel to barrel variation seems to be a big sticking point on this one. Makes it hard to want to chase it. Cheers!

[@yourdrinkingbuddy]

@@thebourbonhutch9574 hey I am working on a BiB tourny.... watch ot win lol

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

That would be funny. But hey that’s what blinds and tournaments are all about!

[@ikeyeet8312]

what hype, this stuff sits on the shelf all day collecting dust here

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

This has actually become a lot more available around me recently and I've begun to see it on shelves regularly for $60-70. Before that it was pretty hard to find. Has it always been available around you? Cheers!

[@ikeyeet8312]

@@thebourbonhutch9574 yes consistently.

[@umami0247]

It's good but not worth what they want for it.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

Agreed!

[@pwrbomb1970]

I’ve tried this bourbon twice. It’s underwhelming at every turn. Too expensive and just not very good. I’ll get the HH 7 year BiB.

[@thebourbonhutch9574]

I would also take the HH 7 year over this. I really like that bottle. Cheers!